Open Letter From The Canadian Startup Community: Diversity Is Our Strength
The Canadian tech startup community, over 1,110 founders, investors, employees, and others, have come together to draft and put forth the below statement to express our solidarity with those affected by the recent US ban on select nationalities and call on the Canadian government to do the humane thing.
Update:
# of signatures: 1116
# of unique companies represented: 757
# of folks with founder in title: 349
# w/ CEO in title: 274
# w/ CTO in title: 42
# w/ VP: 56
# w/ Principal: 16
# w/ Partner: 49
# w/ Director: 115
# w/ Developer: 26
and students, editors, marketers, and many other professions represented.
The Canadian tech community comprises many different nationalities, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, mental and physical abilities, and perspectives. We believe that this diversity is a source of strength and opportunity.
On this topic, we are united.
Canadian tech companies understand the power of inclusion and diversity of thought, and that talent and skill know no borders. In choosing to hire, train, and mentor the best people in the world, we can build global companies that grow our economy. By embracing diversity, we can drive innovation to benefit the world.
The 21st century will be driven by pluralistic economies powered by pluralistic societies.
This is a belief founded upon personal experience for many in our community. Many Canadian tech entrepreneurs are immigrants, are the children of immigrants, employ and have been employed by immigrants.
As connected economies, decisions by the United States can directly impact every business north of the border. The recently signed Executive Order to block entry of citizens from seven countries has already impacted several in our community. As a community, we are all affected.
As a community, we stand together in opposition to the marginalization of people based on their birthplace, race, or religion.
The Canadian tech community supports Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s message that Canada will and must remain inclusive to all nationalities. We also stand directly opposed to any and all laws that undermine or attack inclusion, and call on Prime Minister Trudeau and our political leaders to do the same.
The Canadian tech community also calls on the Canadian federal government to institute an immediate and targeted visa providing those currently displaced by the US Executive Order with temporary residency in Canada. This visa would allow these residents to live and work in Canada with access to benefits until such time as they can complete the application process for permanent residency if they so choose. We encourage provincial and municipal governments across Canada to lend support as they can.
Diversity is our strength. We, as Canadians, recognize our privilege as a prosperous nation. We believe providing refuge to people seeking safety should remain our compass.
In the hours following the US decision, many members of our community have privately shared personal stories of their immigrant experience. We ask them now to share those stories publicly so they may be amplified.
This open letter was drafted, revised, and signed by over 150 members of the Canadian tech community. Those wishing to add their names to the list may email: cdntechwithoutborders@gmail.com.
This list is as of the time of writing this, on a Sunday morning. Many, many more are waking up today to a new world.
